G&T lands £5m Clarence House revamp

The construction management arm of Gardiner & Theobald has won the race for the £5m contract to refurbish Clarence House.

The job will include turning the early 19th-century property into the official residence of Princes Charles, William and Harry. The house was the Queen Mother’s central London residence for the last 49 years of her life.

G&T is believed to have beaten off competition from Schal and Wallis, the refurbishment arm of Kier, to land the contract. It is the firm’s second royal job in recent times – it project-managed the restoration of Windsor castle after the 1992 fire.

Reports at the weekend implied that the job would include an unusual addition – a nightclub for William and Harry. It was suggested that architect Martin Ashley had been asked to incorporate a sound system and bar.

The refurbishment is also likely to involve a complete overhaul of the residence, which does not have central heating.

Some ground-floor rooms are expected to be left as they were during the Queen Mother’s lifetime and opened to the public during summer months.

The project team on the work also includes QS Huntley Cartwright and structural engineer Gifford & Partners.